Fluorescent electric lamp



May 2, 1950 L. ROGERS FLUORESCENT ELECTRIC LAIIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1948 LOUIS ROGERS INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 2, 1950 Filed Jan. 20, 1948 L. ROGERS FLUORESCENT ELECTRIC mp 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 FIG.4

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Lqul's ROGERS INVENTOR ATTORNEY ?atented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILUORESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP Louis Rogers, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 20, 1948, Serial No. 3,281 1 Claim. (c1. 176-122) This invention relates fluorescent electric lamps which are designedfir attachment at one e d to n y used electric light sockets.

An object of this invention is to provide a fluorescent electric lamp having contacts only at one end of the lamp and which in connection with a suitable choke can be threaded into any standard electric socket. V Another object of this invention is to provide a combined fluorescent electric lamp with an adapter containing a current limiting reactor or resistor.

Another object of this invention is to provide the fluorescent electric lamp with a radioactive and photoelectric coating on the electrodes.

Another object of this invention is to provide the fluorescent electric lamp with a printed path, the resistance of which is higher than the ionized path through the gaseous medium but lower than the non-ionized path through the gaseous medium.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fluorescent electric lamp having a radioactive path which provides a permanent partial ionization of the gaseous medium of the lamp.

Another object of this invention is to provide electrodes made in the form of open coils so that the radioactivity is concentrated within the field of the coils, thereby lowering the work function and facilitating the liberation of electron discharge and causing the electrons to ionize the gas at a faster rate.

with the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim which forms part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a fluorescent electric lamp and adapter embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the lamp and adapter, the adapter being partly broken away to show a bayonet type connection.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified fluorescent electric lamp.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a coated electrode, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 7 is a top view of a modified standard having a printed path on one-half of its surface and an alpha active non-conductive coating on the other half of its surface.

tric lamp comprising a sealed envelope or container ll made of glass or similar material. The

through a support disc 14 and are then bent in a lower end is sealed to a stem orsupport I2. The support I! protrudes inwardly of the envelope l I.

Two elongated standards l3 are mounted on the support l2. The standards l3 are substantially co-extensive with the length of the glass envelope H. The standards l3 preferablypass reverse direction and pass through the disc l4 and terminate in extensions l5 which face the support 12. The extensions I5 have an emission electrode or discharge element It suitably secured thereo.

Two standards ll of reduced length are mounted on the support It and have an emission electrode or discharge element l6 suitably secured thereto. The upper and lower emission electrodes l5 and it are of identical design and preferably of open coil form as shown.

Lead-in wires 20, ll, 22, 23 are connected to the corresponding standards l3 and H whereby electrical energy is transmitted to the emission electrodes l6, It. The lower end of the lamp it terminates in an insulating member a l and a con tact 25.

. The emission electrodes it, It have surface coatings 2B which are radioactive and have photoelectric propertics. The radioactive coatings ionize the space around each electrode. This results in the easy liberation of electrons under a lower than usual voltage-pressure.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the standards l3 carry tubular members 21, 21'. The member 21' has a printed path 28 thereon for current flow.

It is to be noted that the printed path 28 has no physical connection to any of the discharge elements l6, l6. Also, that a leakage gap is provided between the printed path and the adjacent discharge element.

The adapter 30 comprises an outer container 3| which carries a socket 32 having a bayonet type connection 33 for the lamp ID at one end and a screw type plug 34 at the, opposite end.

The adapter 30 contains a reactor 35 well known in the art. The remaining space in the adapter is filled with heat conductive material.

It is to be noted that the printed surface forming the printed path is insulated by coating the surface with an insulating material. This insulation extends from electrode to electrode through the ionized medium. The insulation prevents ionization of the structure of the printed resistance path which would otherwise become conductive.

Figures 4 and 5 show a modified fluorescent electric lamp 0 having only one elongated standard 4| which is insulated and supported by a tube 42 made of glass or other insulating material. The tube 42 has a printed path coating 43 on the entire length thereof but on only onehalf of its circumference.

The fluorescent electric lamp 40 comprises a sealed envelope or container 44 made of glass or similar material. The lower end of the envelope 44 is sealed to a stem or support 45. The support 45 extends inwardly of the envelope 44.

The standard 4| is mounted on the support 45. The standard 4| is substantially co-extensive with the length of the glass envelope 44.. The standard 4| passes through a support disc 46 which is preferably made of mica and is then bent in a reverse direction and passes through the disc 46 and terminates in extensions 41 which face the support 45. The extensions 41 have an emission electrode or discharge element l6 suitably secured thereto.

Two standards 48 of reduced length are mounted on the support 45 and have an emission electrode or discharge element It suitably secured thereto. 'The upper and lower emission electrodes l6 and it are of identical design and preferably of open coil form as shown.

Lead-in wires 49, 50 are connected to the corresponding standards 49 whereby electrical energy is transmitted to the emission electrodes l6, IS. The lower end of the lamp 40 terminates in an insulating member 24' and a contact 25'.

r The emission electrodes I6, l6 have surface coatings 2'6 (Figure 6) which are radioactive and have photoelectric properties. The radioactive coatings ionize the space around each electrode. This results in the easy liberation of electrons 'under a lower than usual voltage-pressure.

It is to be noted that the printed path 43 has no physical connection to any of the discharge elements l6, l6. Also, that a leakage gap is provided between the printed path and the adjacent discharge element.

It is to be noted that the insulation coating on. the printed path surface terminates slightly below the upper electrode and slightly above the lower electrode to allow a leakage gap.

It is to be noted that the emission electrodes or discharge elements are made in the form of open coils so that the radioactivity and the photoelectric effect is concentrated within the field of the coils, thereby lowering the work function and facilitating the liberation of electron discharge and causing the electrons to ionize the gas in the tube at a faster rate due to the particular form of electrodes shown.

The specific construction of the electrodes herewith shown is more fully disclosed in my patent application for- Radioactive electrode coating,

4 Serial No. 765,341, flied August 1, 1947, now abandoned.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have.

described and illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

In a fluorescent electric lamp comprising a sealed glass envelope, a support mounted therein, two elongated standards mounted on said sup port and carrying a discharge element, two standards of reduced length mounted on said support and carrying a discharge element, said elongated standards being of equal length and free of connection with each other to provide an unobstructed electron path between said discharge elements, an ionized gaseous medium within said container, a radioactive coating of electron emitting material on said discharge elements, said coating providing permanent partial ionization of said gaseous medium, said discharge elements being supported by said standards in spaced-apart relation from each other, an insulated semi-conductive printed path 'on one of said elongated standards lengthwise oi! said glass envelope for current flow providing a predetermined resistance greater than the ionized path but less than the non-ionized path so that the current seeking least resistance will cause ionization of the gaseous medium, a support disk mounted in said envelope at the end opposite said stem and engaging the side walls 01 said. envelope, said standards passing through said disk and being held in supported relation thereby, said standards having extensions facing in a reverse direction after passing through said disk,

0 said extensions forming carriers for one of said electrodes, and terminal elements connecting said standards to points external of one end of said envelope.

' LOUIS ROGERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

